The History Collective

11/09/2026

If you haven't booked anything for tomorrow, don't worry!
There is still plenty of heritage you can access without booking in advance for EHOD.
Donaghadee Parish Church is celebrating 400 years & opening it's doors tomorrow for history enthusiasts to explore it's church and impressive graveyard.

Open from 10am to 4pm
Saturday 12th September

No booking needed, just turn up & soak up the history!

10/09/2026

If you're looking for somewhere to explore which is normally closed to the public, Jordan's Castle in Ardglass might be the place for you this weekend.

Legends of Lecale Peninsula will be opening up this historic building on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 7pm. All pre-bookable tours have sold out but you can still go and have a look around, there might even be some Normans hanging out on Sunday...

Jordan's Castle
Ardglass
Saturday & Sunday
11am to 7pm

As with all of our top picks you can find out more on the EHOD website and Love Heritage NI

09/09/2026

Our next EHOD pick is Limavady Workhouse.
The best-preserved workhouse in Ireland is opening it's doors for free this Saturday for guided tours for EHOD through Limavady Workhouse Museum

We have an extra special day of events lined up there in October with our workhouse expert Robyn Atcheson - Historian but if you're in the vicinity this Saturday, it's a perfect opportunity to scope out the beautiful building and it's 180 years of history.

Booking is essential so book your spot now on eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/limavady-workhouse-ehod-2026-tickets-1996974632884

Love Heritage NI

09/09/2026

Tomorrow night in Omagh

📃 Letters Across the Atlantic: Tyrone’s Emigrant Stories

❓ What can a letter sent from America tell us about life in Tyrone? Quite a lot.

📆 Join us Thursday 10th September at 7pm

🎟 Book Now https://struleartscentre.co.uk/show/letters-across-the-atlantic-tyrones-emigrant-stories/

As part of European Heritage Open Days, step into the personal stories of Tyrone emigrants through remarkable letters sent home to Omagh and the surrounding area. In this, the 250th anniversary year of American independence, join us for a fascinating new talk, led by Sebastian Graham from the world-renowned Mellon Centre Migration Studies explores the hopes, hardships, opportunities and everyday experiences captured in their own words. These letters offer a timely and personal connection between Tyrone and the story of emigration to America.

08/09/2026

A few free tickets left for Friar's Bush Graveyard Tours on Saturday.

We don't make a fuss about this because we prefer the work to speak for itself, but the History Collective has a marketing partnership with Friends of Friar's Bush, the group that puts on the walking tours there, and our own Robyn Atcheson - Historian is one of the guides.

Grab some free tickets at https://shorturl.at/JMKbI and you can explore 450+ years of known history this Saturday!

A guided walking tour of the ancient Friar's Bush graveyard. 450 years of known history await you. 3rd best thing on Belfast Tripadvisor!

07/09/2026

Do you have your weekend plans sorted?
This weekend is European Heritage Open Days which means that a whole lot of historical buildings and places will be open to the public - for free! Love Heritage NI
Each day this week we will share a place you can visit this weekend to soak in all that lovely history.

For today's pick, we can't recommend EHOD events without giving a shout out to our founder Robyn Atcheson - Historian who is putting on a free talk all about her research into workhouses.

The Workhouses of Ulster & Their Afterlives is an overview about what happened to the workhouse buildings after they stopped being workhouses. Robyn will also be talking about her recent successful campaign to memorialise the Belfast workhouse burial ground.

What: The Workhouses of Ulster & Their Afterlives
When: Saturday 12th September at 1pm
Where: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland PRONI

This is a free talk but booking is essential to guarantee a seat!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ehod-the-workhouses-of-ulster-their-afterlives-tickets-1989897493971?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

07/09/2026

We're still getting our heads around just how many salmon were part of ancient Irish myths and legends after last week's info-packed talk with Róisín Ní Con Ulaidh on the Tuatha de Danann.
It was great to "dive in" (see what I did there?) to some folklore & unpick the many legends involving Ireland's pre-history.
Róisín also helpfully gave us some pointers on where to go to find out more.

That's what The History Collective is all about - academic, quality research brought to the public in a fun & entertaining way.
What kind of history would you like us to cover? Let us know!

04/09/2026

To become a wife and mother was the ultimate aim for women in the nineteenth century but when a woman deviated from that path, there were consequences.

Harriet Capel fell in love with a much older man during the Napoleonic Wars, a man who did not return her affection. However Harriet successfully seduced him. Having lost her virginity, Harriet and her family were at risk of ruin unless she married quickly. Her lover fled. Word got out.
A man who had unsuccessfully proposed to Harriet's sister offered to marry Harriet himself in order to save the family's reputation.

The rules surrounding love, s*x and marriage will be delved into tomorrow at our history workshop led by Robyn Atcheson - Historian

🩷Love in the Time of Jane Austen 🩷
Saturday 5th September
10.30am - 1pm
Holywood Library

Special Offer - Buy One, Get One Free on tickets!

Book your place now at https://shorturl.at/HB15S

02/09/2026

Who are the Tuatha de Danann?

Were they gods? Or a tribe capable of supernatural powers who fought for their right to remain in Ireland?

Did they travel by cloud? Were they driven underground?

Last chance to grab yourself a ticket for a talk exploring all things Danann tomorrow night, Thursday 3rd September at 7pm.
Folklore expert Róisín is ready to whisk us all away to the land of the fairies with

🧙Who in the Danann: The Old Gods of Ancient Ireland 🧙‍♂️
7pm
Templemore Baths

Tickets available at https://shorturl.at/OTSZa

01/09/2026

With a new version of Sense and Sensibility about to hit our screens, our own Austen fan Robyn Atcheson - Historian is leading a workshop this Saturday all about the real history of love in Regency England.

💕Love in the Time of Jane Austen 💕
Saturday 5th September
10.30am to 1pm
Holywood Library

Tickets: Buy One, Get One Free!

Learn all about love, marriage and passion in the era of Austen and Bridgerton.
No previous knowledge necessary.
Opinions on adaptations welcome.

Tea, coffee & biscuits included!

https://shorturl.at/BjAej